And-repeat contact-printing apparatus



Oct. 9, 1928. 4 1,686,559

R. HARRIS DUPLICATING OR PRINTING APPARATUS AND PARTICULARLY PHOTOGIRAPHIC STEP AND REPEAT CONTACT PRINTING APPARATUS Filed June 10, 1927 s Sheet s-Sheet 1 INVEHTOR Oct. 9, 1928.

1,686,559 ARRIS R. H DUPLI CAT I NG OR PRI NTING APPARATUS AND PARTICULARLY PHOTOGRAPHI C STEP AND REPEAT CONTACT PRINTING APPARATUS 3 SIIeets Sheet 2 Film June 10, 1927 Oct. 9, 1928.

3; Sheets-Sheet 3 WWW R. HARRIS STEP AND REPEAT CONTACT PRINTING APPARATUS Filed June 10, I 1927 DUPLICATING OR PRINTING APPARATUS AND PARTICULARLY PHOTOGRAPHIC mm wwwm m 8 Q Q Q m M Q g i w in. WW2. V? mm .Q .8 w gmkw mwRR $3M m wwfi ww Patented Oct. 9, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT caries.

ROBERT HARRIS, 01 LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR QF ONE-HALF TO PICTORIAL MACHINERY LIMITED, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, A BRITISH COMPANY.

DUPLICATING OR PRINTING APPARATUS AND PARTICULARLY PHOTOGBAPHIC STEP- AND-REPEAT CONTACT-PRINTING APPARATUS.

Application filed June 10, 1927, Serial No. 197,790, and in Great Britain August 11, 1926.

This invention relates to duplicating or printing apparatus,,and particularly photographic step-andrc-peat contact-printing machines. In such machines a unit-holder 6 carrying a unit, such as a photographic negative or positive, and a supportconstrtutmg a bed for a sensitive surface, such as a plate of sensitized metal, e. g. zinc or aluminium, have been arranged one fixed against movemerit in its own, plane. and the other movable in relation thereto :to permit the unit to be brought into intimate contact with various parts of the'metal'plate in succession. When the bed. is stationary and of large dimensions the init-hold'er has to have a large range' of motion' in atleast-two directions. In one such-machine proposed heretofore a stationary main frame for the bed was pro vid'edwith-a' longitudinal track extending in,-

the direction of'length of thelbed, on which track ran :acarriag'e having a'transverse track extending across the'bed, along which tr'ansverse trackithe light box having the unit-holder was movable. Such an arrangement has the drawback that any defect such as lack of :alignment in the longitudinal track, duee. g'. to-wear-and tear, affects also the tr'ansverse track-with the result that the directions ofthe? relative movements of the so bed and light'box willvarysomuclnfronr a right 'anglea's to destroy, all possibility of: exact register-of'the various printsjproduced on the machine. Also in the machine'referred to ,the-Ttrackof the carriage carrying-the light box extended along two opposite longitudinal edges of the bed and con: stituted an obstacle to anoperat or who de-.

sired to work- 3along, bot-h grippen edges.

Further, if the unit-holder is fixed the-large bed -is heavy andcumbrous to move into the required positions. i.

"This invention has for its main object to obviate these defects-even when beds of large. size; say feet by 4 feet,are used; other objects are to facilitate the unit-holder and bed being correctly positioned in relation one to' the other after each movement. and to enable such changes of position to be made in rapid succession.

According to 'an important feature of the invention, there is provided duplicating or printing apparatus, for example photographic step-and-repeat contact-printin apparatus wherein .a supporting device, 0. g. a table) for a printing member (e. a plate), and a unit-holding device forcarry mg a unit (e. g. a. carriage for a photographic negative) are so arranged on a framework that the unit can be brought into contact with different parts of the printing member in succession, characterized in that two independent tracks are provided on the said frameworklying transversely one of the other (e. g. at right-angles to oneanother), on one ofwhich tracks the said supporting device is mounted'to reciprocate. and on the other of which tracksthe said unit-holding device is mounted.to,reciprocate, and two driving mechanisms ar e mounti ed independently one of =-.the', o ther .01

said framework and associated eachawitli one of said tracks for driving the device) thereon. Owing to this arrangement; any defect in one track s notcoirmunrcated to the device carriedby the other traclgl jand the machine lends itself tomoreexact registerof one print withranother than hasibeen obtained heretofore even; when a certain amount. of weauin oneorbothtracks occurs According to anoth'e xfeaturc fo f .'the-in-' vention,. either of the, tracks aforesai, Iahdv the device, nainelv the, suppoi'tin gide'viee or.- theunit-holding device, thereon, is, combined with a fine-adjus m nt 3MP ha .i!( ii fi z b in. the direction .pf lengthv oi 'qneq i tracks and is arranged to, coractfjwitli and' a-r' rest the said device (e. the supporting de viceor the unit-holdingdevice)thereon, silient driving mechanisn'i for-'drivingfsaicl device up to: and, holding- 1 it resiliently against said fine-adjustment stop, and locking means for locking said device v terri porarily-i'n its position of adjustment' against said.fine adj ustment stop, for the purpose of ensuring that the ,device that is being set shall be held home against theffiiie-adjust ment stop whilstthe device beinglo'cked in the position in which st-herebyse According to yet anotherfeature oftheinf vention, each. driving nieclianism' extends from en d .to end of its associated track and has operating means. (e. g. toothed jwheel gearingyat each end thereof, which operating means are each so arranged that it can end of the latter and an operator at one,

end of the track can prevent the device thereon from being driven by an unauthorized person at the other end or the track.

'Kccording to a further feature of the in vention, :the driving mechanism comprises an endless member (e. g. an endless chain) arranged :alongside the traclg-aspring (e.- g. a 'coil sprlng surrounding a part of the endlessmember) constitutes a driving connecti'o'n between said device (eg. the'support ng device) and thecridless member, and arrest-' in; ine'ans (e. g. pawl-and-ratchet mechanism) is arranged to hold the endless member against the action of-said spring.

It isa further feature of the invention to provide in"'conibina tion'with the parts set forth above, a 'coarsc adju'stment stop -movableinto theipathofa said device (e.-g. the supporting device) and arranged to arrest tlie latter approximately at an initial positioh on' the tr'ack, andrneans (e. g. a rackaiiid pinion mechanism) for removing said cotirse adjustrn'nt stop into 'an inoperative p n- 1 Conveniently, one end of the track of said supporting device extends through an apertiire in 'a'wall of a photographic dark-room,

and a liglit tigli tcasing fitting said aperture encloses the i' eniainde'r of said track and the said device 'fnovable thereon.

. Tl1e.'i nvention falso provides a iii'tliod' of po sitioniii'gon a'track a dev icesuch as a unitholdi'ng device, o'r a'bed for a pr'ess plate, dfifilidgtilig or printingapparatus, for'ffiimplejphotog japhic step-by-s'tep' contact-print;

ingf'apparatus, which consistsin setting a finea justment stop in apredeteriiiined position in thefpathofinovemnt of the device, driving the device (e. g. by resilientdriving m'ea'ns) upto and holdingit, preferably resiliently, against said stop by said driving means, clamping the device against movement in the adjusted position against said step, setting the said step in a fresh predetermined po sition in the path of movement of the device on the track, unclamping the device and repeating the cycle of operations,

According .to another feature offthe inyen'tion, the method set forth in the precedm fpam 'mph comprises the steps of arresting the device approximately in its initial position by a coarse-adjustment stop and rendering the latter inoperative litter the fine adjustment stop .has become operative.

The invention will now be described with Figure 2 is a like view of the machine as seen from the other side at the rear end thereof;

Figure 3 is a diagrammatic side elevation of a track aforesaid with the supporting device thereon and the setting mechanism -associnted therewith Figure 4 is a plan view, and

Figure 5 an end elevation of the parts shown in Figure 3. v

Like reference numerals designate like parts throughont'the several views.

Referring to the drawing aphotographic.

step-andwepeat contaetprint ng w machine. comprises a framework -1( having'two: tracks? 11, 12, a lower'onefll-extehdingni the di-' rection of length 'of' the'ma'ch'lne'; and anupper shorter one 12 lying at right "angles thereto. One'end of the lower Etiack 11,

hereinafter referred to as the front-'en(1,'-ex-' tends through an aperture 13 in: a-walll which forms part 'o'ffa ii'ght tight 'casih'g 15 that encloses the remainder of the lower track for the purpose described hereinafter. VVhe'n the machine is in use this wall stitntes part oftlie wall of "a photographic darkroom; A 1

A, table-20 having "a'bd 21 for supporting a sensitized metal plate--22, for-"exiample ofz-ine orialumininm; is arranged to run oii wheels 23 or rollers on the' lo'we'r track 11 and can be loaded in 't h'edarlr -rooin ivl'ien on thefront' end'thereof. 'A 'c arriage' 30 that carries a press frame for a negative and a light be 31 with a lamp for; ill'uminating the negative is arranged to rah onthe upper t'rack. tra versing- 'the' BedsQI and ca rriage-BO each along its trfaclfith'negi atirc can be brought step 'by"stepintovanious positions in"su..-c ession--abdve thesensi tized plate'22 from which "li h t other than that from the lamp is'exc'lu e'd. T r l In order that the' printing of the-plate may be etfected with exact repetition-and register in whatever positions may 'bel'ie- Quircdth'at is according to the various'sizs of plate and "negative; and in order that the setting operation may 'be' partly per-' formed during the printing op'era'tion,'s et-' ting means operable independently ofthe table 20 and carriage'30-areassociated with e: "h track. These setting means are of similar construction for each track and will now be described withreference to thelower track ll. and its table 20.

is diagrainmatimlly shown in Figures 3 I 46, 47 surround the rod 'and abut at one end against said partition 44 and at their other ends each against one of two collars 48 fast on the ends of the rod. A coarseadjustment stop 50 in the form of a vertical 1 latchhaving its lower end formed as a toothed rack can be brought into and out of its operative position on the track by a pinion 51 that engages the rack and can be rotated by hand by a spindle 52 that extends out of the casing at one'side of the machine and carries ahandle 53. When this latch 50 is in its operative position the front end of the table 20 coming from the dark room can ride over and fall behind it and be tem porarilyheld in an initial position indicated in Figures.- l Vhenso positionedan abut ment 54 in the'forni of a tapered plug held in the bottomof the table is located against a fine-adjustment stop 55 'whi"h is carried by a nut 56movable on a screw spindle 57 that carries an index movable by a handle 58 over a graduated dial 59 at the rear end of the track, so that the fine-adjustment stop 55 can be accurately adjusted in any desired position along the length of the spindle independently of the movement'of the table. Owing to'the stop 55 beingadjustable in dependently of the traveling table it can be adjusted to a new:.position whilst the table is locked. in its adjusted position and is being used for printing purposes. This ensures a saving-of time as compared. with an arrangementwherein the travelling table or light-box itself has. to be set by means of index mechanism.

room. In order to rotate the ratchet wheel counter-clockwise to drive the vtable forwards the operator has to pull the pawl 66 back against its spring, in which retracted position it can be held against a stop by giving it a half turn. The pawl-andratchet mechanism 61 at the rear end of the track is constructed similarly (similar parts being indicated by like reference numerals), except that it constitutes speed-reduction gear, and when the pawl 66 is operative can drive the table towards the rear, a countershaft 67 carrying two gear wheels 68, 69 of diti'erent diameter being provided between the said spur gear 62, 63. This arrangement enables the traversing movement of the table 20 to be effected from either end of the framework 10, but enables an operator at either end to prevent such movement in both directions by locking the pawl-andratchet mechanism against rotation.

The locking device aforesaid may be in the form of a friction clutch comprising two clutch plates or. discs 70, 71 one at each side of a web 72 on the bottom of the table extending along the middle or one-side thereof. A rod 73 carrying the plate at one side of the web is slidable endwise-in a tube 74 carrying the other plate 71, which tube is fixed againstendwise movement ina sleeve 75 secured on the side of the track 11...The rod and tube are rotatably coupled together at their outer ends by a handle -76ihaving a pin that engages radially in a cam slot 77 in the adjacent end of the sleeve; so that by turning the handle the clutchisncaused to grip the web on the table. Alternatively, the rod may be screw-threaded -in:the tube, and the tube may be threadedsin the opposite sense in the sleeve, a single handlebeing arranged to rotate both rod and tube-simultaneously.

As indicated above,- similar drivingand adjusting mechanism is associated withithe other track -12 for driving the light-box carriage and for setting the negative holder in various positions 'in relatiofnto thetable.

WVhen the bed 21 on the table 20 is'being loaded in the darkroom,-the coarse-adjustment stop 50 will be in its operative position in relation to; theitraek 11. When the-plate 22 has been clipped onthe bed 21 the;oper,-

66 of theratchetmechanism 60. at the front end of the track llfiand drive thje; endless chain 40 so as Ito drive the tableout of the dark room through the aperture 133in said wall 14 to near the centre of thetrack 11 under the carriage 30 until the one end of the table rides-over the -coarse-adjustment stop 50,- which,will,be felt by the operator. The fine-adjustment stop 55-wi1l have'been previously setfor the. initial position; ofhthe table and owing to the resilient driveby the chain the abutment 540:! the tableiwill be held resiliently againstthe fine-adjustment stop, wherebyuthe table will beaceurately positioned in its initial position. 40 cannot move in the reverse direction owing to its being vheld against such movement by the pawl-and-ratchet mechanism-61 at the rear endof the track 11. v Tl e table will now be locked ,in-its initial position by The chain the clutch 70, 71. When so locked the coarse-adjustment stop can be removed into an inoperative position; and the fine-adjustment stop canbe reset for a'second position by the index mechanism 58, 59 at the rear end of the track. WVhen so set the clutch 70, 71 will be released and the table will be moved up to the fine-adjustment stop 55 in its new position by operating the pawland-ratchet mechanism 61 at the rear end of the track, when the table will be again locked in its second position. This operation can be repeated-as many times as is necessary, and when the table has arrived into its rear end position and printing has been effected the table can be returned rapidly into the dark room by turning the handle 800i the pawl-and-ratchet mechanism fiQ-or more slowly byturning the handle 8]. of the -pawl-and-ratchet mechanism 61.

The carriage 30 can be traversed on its track in a likemanner. The handles 80, 81, 7 6, 53 for operating the ratchet mechanism,

the locking device and the coarse-adjustment :stop associated with the track;1 1.-are arranged at the same-side-thereo-f so as to facilitate the operation of themaChi-ne; the corresponding handles 1'80, 181,- 176 and 153', associated wit-hthe :upper track 12 are shown'in-Figure 1-, andalso indexmechanism- 158, 159 corresponding to the index mechanism 58, 59. A fine-adjnstment-stop 155, nut 1'56 and spindle 157 associated with the carriage 30 and corresponding .to the partsig55'ff56 and- '57 are shown iii Figure 2 situated 'along .0119, side of 'the track 12. Qwi'ng to the described 'li-ght-tightenclosure 'the='sens itized plate '22 is protected from expesure {to daylight; ini'all dtspositions on the 'ti'iack w "LE "1: Y" --;An important advantage of thezinvention =is that whil'st'contact printingmf the plateis 'being efl'ecte'd ivith theta'ble and light box in one position the various 'manipulations requis ite for setting the tab'le and carriagein a -se'coad position canbe performed whilst -'such-"p1-ixiting"is taking place, when it is only necessary to move the table and carriage up ;to the newly adj listed stops, whereby a 'cbnsiderable saving in-time is' efiectec'l; Furthr; owing to the re's'i'lient drive described above all backlash an (1 lack 'ofproper contact between th'e' stops and 'tlie partsfcoz-opera'ting therewith are effectively prevented, whereby correct: positioning of the table an d -carriage-i's ensured. Various m0difications= in'- the details of "c'o'n's'tri'icti'on described above may be made without departing from the scope the invention as de fined in' the claims.

"I el-aimz V I 1 "'a'pparat-us o'f"'t he character d scribed, t-he combination "of a framework having two independent tracks lying trans- '-vers'ely one of the other, a: supportingdevice for a printing member mounted to reciprocate on one of said tracks, a unit-holding device for carrying a unit mounted to reciprocate on the-other of said tracks, a fineadjustment stop adjustable -in the direction of length of on e of said tracks, resilient driving mechanism arranged to drive the device on the latter track up to and hold it resiliently against said stop,locking means for locking the latter device temporarily in its position of adjustment against said stop, and a second driving mechanism distinct from said resilient driving mechanism and mounted independently thereof in association with the other'track and arranged to drive the device on the latter.

2. in apparatus of thecharacter described;

the combination of;a framework having two independent tracks lying transversely one-of the other, a supporting device .for. printin member mounted'to reciprocate 011- onerosaid tracks,- a-unit-holding deviceior; carry ing a unit mounted to (reciproeater-on; the other of said; tracks; and two distinct driving mechanisms mounted ind pendently {one-(of the other =onasai'd framework and associated each with one of said tracksand arr anged to drive the (device there'ongqeachof which -driving mechanisms extend-from-endtoend of itsrgassociated trzackland Hcomprises fitvf) operating :mean's, :onemear reach end :of the track,-arranged toactuateitsassdciated driving mechanism :in aboth' directions; l and two arresting. means P'ESSbCiEtfiGdl; each; with none of the operating-meansinoirinallyfiprevnting the latter?" from-'5 operating rt-he 3' iass'ociatdd driving Emechanisin i11 either idi'ilectionfir i i 3: .:In afialappanatus'mfvtheochhmadttamdscribed; thei rcombinationwocfi a u'franiework having two independentsfinaeksiliyifigitrahis .verselyzone' ofthe'otheq a supportingtlviice -for sprinting-member mounted fbwreci'prm cate 'on one 1 of said traeks; et-mnit holding "device-:2 for carrying-1 a. ann'itwmolmtedi ".to

reciprocate on the other .of-* saidtracles,;ia fine-ad ust1'fleut stop adjust'able inrtheidiiection 'of: length of one o f saiditraokgiresilient driving l mechanism iartangeduito dr'ive the device 'on tlie' flatter trziek 'np tmlanH hdldiit resiliently against 'i'said stopg: docking means for I locking the flatter dev'iee'sternlporarlly in its posit-ion ofad-justmenb against s'aid !stop, which driving. '=mechanisrfi-" com'prises two operatinga means in the form -"otE"'--'tdotlied vvheel. gearing; one: near each end of :thesaiid track, :and 'arrest-ingrimeans associated each -w'ith one of fsaid epemtingaheans and normally preventin :the driving mechanism from movingm" either direzhtidig and a seconddriying'mechanismdistincbfforiisaitl resilient dnvmg mechanism -and4nounted= independently ther'eotin association withthe other 'track'aiiii arranged to; drive the :device "on the'latter." 6 1: In' a'pp'aratus ofthecharacterdescribed,

the combination of a framework having two independent tracks lying transversely one of the other, a supporting device for a printing member mounted to reciprocate on one of said tracks, a unit-holding device for carrying a unit mounted to reciprocate on the other of said tracks, a fine-adjustment stop adjustable in the direction of length of one of said tracks, resilient driving mechanism arranged to drive the device on the latter track up to and hold it resiliently against said stop, locking means for locking the latter device temporarily in its position of adjustment against said stop, which driving mechanism comprises an endless member arranged alongside said track, a spring constituting a driving connection between said endless member and the device on said track, and arresting means for holding said endless member against the action of said spring, and a second driving mechanism distinct from said resilient driving mechanism and mounted independently thereof in association with the other track and arranged to drive the device on the latter.

5. In apparatus of ,the character de scribed, the combination of a framework having two independent tracks lying transversely one of the other, a supporting device for a printing member mounted to reciprocate on one of said tracks, a unit-holding device for carrying a unit mounted to reciprocate on the other of said tracks, a fine-adjustment sto adjustable in the direction of length 0 one of said tracks, resilient driving mechanism arranged to drive the device on the latter track up to and hold it resiliently against said stop, locking means for holding the latter device temporarily in its position of adjustment against said stop, and a second driving mechanism distinct from but substantially a duplicate of said resilient driving mechanism and mounted independently thereof in association with the other track and arranged to drive the device on the latter.

6. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a framework having two independent tracks lying transversely one of the other, a supporting device for a printing member mounted to reciprocate on one of said tracks, a unit-holding device for carrying a unit mounted to reciprocate on the other of said tracks, a coarse-adjustment stop movable into the path of the device on one of said tracks and arranged to arrest the device approximately at an initial position on said track, means for removing said coarse-adjustment stop into an inoperative the device on the latter track up to and hold it resiliently against said fine-adjustment stop, locking means for locking the latter device temporarily in its position of adjustment against said fine-adjustment stop, and a second driving mechanism distinct from said resilient driving mechanism and mounted independently thereof in association with the other track and arranged to drive the device on the latter.

7. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a frame work having two independent tracks lying transversely one of the other, a supporting device for a printing member mounted to reciprocate on one of said tracks, a unit-holding device for carrying a unit mounted to reciprocate on the other of said tracks, a fine-adjustment stop adjustable in the direction of length of one of said tracks, resilient driving mechanism arranged to drive the device on the latter track up to and hold it resiliently against said stop, which latter device has a web extending in the direction of movement thereof, locking means in the form of a clutch that is carriedby said framework and is arranged to engage said web for locking the said device temporarily in its position of adjustment against said stop, and a second driving mechanism distinct from said resilient driving mechanism and mounted independently thereof in association with the other track and arranged to drive the device on the latter. 7

8. In apparatus of the character described, the combination of a framework having two independent tracks lying transversly one of the other, a supporting device for a printing member mounted to reciprocate on one of said tracks, a unit holding device for carrying a unit mounted to reciprocate on the other of said" tracks, and two distinct driving mechanisms mounted independently one of the other on said framework and associated each with one of said tracks and arranged to drive the device thereon, a wall of a photographic dark room having an aperture through which extends one end of the track of said supporting device, and a light-tight casing that fits said aperture and encloses the remainder of the latter track and the said supporting device movable thereon.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

ROBERT HARRIS.

iio 

